The Siege of Tilburg: The history of the future

The Siege of Tilburg: The history of the future: "The media show exactly what it is all about in Tilburg: a city under siege, citizens who live in fear every day, fighting in the streets bet..."

The history of the future

The media show exactly what it is all about in Tilburg: a city under siege, citizens who live in fear every day, fighting in the streets between soldiers and paramilitary organizations.

The siege, is comparable in many ways , to the wars that were fought in the Middle Ages and the way in that time, cities were even equipped for such means of warfare. This comparison is based not only on the encirclement, the siege, the shelling, the strategy known as scorched earth, but also the way certain devices are used. But also wars in modern times like the siege of Sarajevo from 1992 to 1996.
In this case it’s not about the use of arms. The weapons of today are more sophisticated than before. It’s about indirect weapons of war. The way besiegers of the city rob people of their most basic living conditions and let them slowly die of hunger and thirst. Water and electricity are scarce and aid convoys are rarely accepted. Or the way terrorists and snipers spread terror among the population.

Still, keep looking and thinking. Finding parallels in the history that could be applied on the future.

The Siege of Tilburg: 21 killed in attack on Pieter Vreedeplein in Tilbur...

The Siege of Tilburg: 21 killed in attack on Peter Vreedeplein in Tilbur...: "One of the deadliest attacks since the bloodbath at the UVT, cost the lives of 21 civilians. Dozens of other civilians were wounded. The bom..."

21 killed in attack on Pieter Vreedeplein in Tilburg

One of the deadliest attacks since the bloodbath at the UVT, cost the lives of 21 civilians. Dozens of other civilians were wounded. The bomb went off in the basement-mall at the Pieter Vreedeplein in Tilburg.

Result of the explosion one hour after the attack

The attack was committed at the end of the afternoon in a relatively peaceful area in Tilburg. Burgertroepen are probably behind attack, but the attack is not claimed yet. The attack came quite unexpected, because it stayed relatively quiet for weeks in the city and the attack was not primarily aimed at the authorities.
This attack has caused great public concern. Authorities warn the population for a new wave of violence.

The Siege of Tilburg: Suffering

The Siege of Tilburg: Suffering: "'Suffering is an important form of awareness, it grants the people a knowledge you can otherwise not obtain, but everyone wants to leave tha..."

Suffering

"Suffering is an important form of awareness, it grants the people a knowledge you can otherwise not obtain, but everyone wants to leave that knowledge to another."

Dzevad Karahasan

Defence had to cut already in 2011

The Minister already economized 200 million euros on defense, in 2011. Especially by postponing investments in equipment and buildings.

This gave the NH-90 helicopter project and the new infantry fighting vehicle less money. A new barracks in Weert was never completed.

It also saved on staff. New civilian personnel were no longer accepted and on military jobs, critical examinations were done to assess if fulfillment was really necessary. These measures stimulated the impetus for the creation of militias. Even after 2011 there was sharply economized on Defense. In 2018 a structural savings of 635 million euros had to be realized.

Source: ONS

http://nos.nl/artikel/195559-defensie-moet-in-2011-al-bezuinigen.html

The attack on the Interpolis building was yet another of a series following the beginning of the unrest and dissatisfaction.

The Siege of Tilburg: Employability Dutch army inadequate

The Siege of Tilburg: Employability Dutch army inadequate: "The deployment of the Dutch armed forces is inadequate due to lack of ammunition and spare parts. The staff feels that nothing is done to pr..."

Employability Dutch army inadequate

The deployment of the Dutch armed forces is inadequate due to lack of ammunition and spare parts. The staff feels that nothing is done to problems. The employability of the armed-infantry is not assured, the minister wrote to the House.

Regular operations are regularly cancelled and much materials cannot be used by the lack of spare parts. When parts are ordered, military faces a long time of delivery.

Defence is facing shortage of funds, mostly because of the expensive mission in Uruzgan, the crisis in the country and especially around Tilburg. The minister cannot say how and when the problems can be solved. There was significantly economized on Defence the last years; in recent years 400 million euros.

Source: ONS

http://nos.nl/artikel/195857-inzetbaarheid-leger-onder-druk.html
http://nos.nl/artikel/195857-inzetbaarheid-leger-onder-druk.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+nosnieuwsbinnenland+%28NOS+Nieuws+-+Binnenland%29

The Siege of Tilburg: The End?

The Siege of Tilburg: The End?: "As Building told me, I went to the Stadhuisstraat to see if 'The End' is near. I found out it depends on how you look at it. Anyway, this s..."

The End?

As Building told me, I went to the Stadhuisstraat to see if 'The End' is near. I found out it depends on how you look at it. Anyway, this street and terraces are at least temporarily safe from snipers on Stadhuisplein.

The Siege of Tilburg: Long time no Siege..

The Siege of Tilburg: Long time no Siege..: "'Hey man, take it easy. I only have 2 bottles' 'Sorry, but I can use a sip.' 'You've been gone for a while haven’t you?' 'After the intervie..."

Long time no Siege..

"Hey man, take it easy. I only have 2 bottles"
"Sorry, but I can use a sip."

"You've been gone for a while haven’t you?"
"After the interview with Building I left for a little while."
"Where have you been?"
"Ah… Been in Rotterdam for an art project and I wanted to get away from this for a short time.."
"But, you’ve been in Rotterdam for an art project!?"
"Yes, that sort of things ... And also painted a lot lately. Check this out:



"Ohhhw dude! ... Copied from a photograph?"
"No those are stills from a movie about Bosnia. I’m making six paintings about Bosnia."
“Impressive. Just how big are they? "
"60 by 70 and 40 to 50 cm. All on that size."
"Why don’t you paint scenes like these from the situation in Tilburg?
"I don’t know. This way I keep myself busy with a different theme."
"A different theme!? Scenes like these we see in the streets every day!"
"Check what I found hanging on the streets. There are much more of these."

Warning
There is cause, to emphatically note, that all firearms, ammunition, grenades, explosions and other war materials should be handed over
Authorities had recently spoke out convictions, several times, for unauthorized possession of similar objects.
For such violations, severe penalties will be subjected, were no leniency is to be expected in the future.

 

"It's been quiet for too long! Hell ‘ll break lose again really soon. With announcements like these .... This is not a kind request to calmly deliver your weapons. It sounds like we’ve been conquered or something like that! But on the contrary, everyone wants to fight!
These past days were much scarier. I don’t know what’s worse. Or the constant roar of cannons and explosions, or the grim silence occasionally interrupted by mortar strikes."
"With the constant bombardments, like when South and the centre were under heavy fire, at least you know you can’t go outside."

(An explosion outside makes Ruud rush to the door and yelling at everyone and anyone)
"Ahhrgg That's what I mean! Get the fuck out GODDAMNED!! GO FIND YOURSELF A JOB YOU IDIOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Building. The End?

Building

No prophet, but a message

"I've long thought that Michael Jackson was the only artist on earth"

During the interview:
Where:
Tilburg
Duration:
1 hour
Drink:
A bottle of elderberry soda
Food:
Nothing
Pronunciation:
"Everything is much more intense because of the war”

After his work in 2007, Fillet of Sopie, the success of the Surinamese artist Building rolls steadily into the new decade. Now in Tilburg the ever cheerful Building experiments with Tilburg as a public workshop, but with a certain immersion and harassment.


That the young Building would become an artist was almost inevitable. His father worked alongside his regular job, for years as amateur artist in various workshops, his parents' house in Paramaribo was always filled with paintings, drawings, collages and more different works. Building began painting at the age of nine and from the age of fifteen, he worked with whatever he could find. With characteristic inseparable hat, Building walks through the ravaged but still trendy cafe where I've agreed to meet him.

Your appearance, a sort of vintage soul style, is that a trademark?
"I don’t know, that style always accidentally seeps through: in furniture and other things also. I do not really have a clear vision when I’m buying clothes, it's a collection of different things that I like. One time I wear sneakers, the other day walkers. "

Does that also apply to your artistic taste and style?
"Yes, I'm not really tied to one style. I am influenced by different styles, from dada to realism. It usually doesn’t matter, but most often I am most attracted by art that seems to be created straight from the heart. "

And now?
"Since I'm stuck here, I work with whatever I can find and get, and I also teach at the Academy of Fontys. I have a one year contract so I better finish it. And a well, for myself... I was inspired by the sheets and curtains hung across the streets by citizens back in Sarajevo. I do not know if you've already seen them but, yes I wanted to add some more. Hehe, yeah, it’s just funny to tease the snipers here with an additional message. Recently I managed to get my hands on a turntable and I mostly listen to vinyl. Soul, jazz, fusion, whatever that I can get, but I prefer real home-chillmusic, I love it. If it seems to be a quiet day, I sometimes bring the turntable and some records to the academy. Then I and the students get to work, while enjoying the music and the sounds of war. "

Are we going to see those acts back in your work?
"Well, I never really have a plan of how my work should be. Especially NOW I let myself be influenced by the environment. First I search for what I experienced and what I would like to say, then how I would it to say. You’ll also recognize this yourself as being an artist. Just like your projects: you have a topic in your head and then you go looking for the way you want to depict. And then you go looking for the right pencils and paper format. Make no mistake, I am also impressed with your work, but isn’t that the way it is, when keep trying to work in a city like this? "

You got that right, it’s not easy. You have to adapt and make the best of it. And especially do not lose your sense of humor.
"That's the last thing you should do. Here’s one by the way, a student told me:
In South a mother puts her head out the window of her apartment and calls out to the children playing outside: "Children go inside! There is a sniper over there! " One of the children answers:" No there’s not! Daddy is sleeping! "

(We laughed out loud because of the silliness joke. People in the cafe who also heard the joke joined us in our laughter. Then we ordered another bottle of elderberry soda)

Okay! Next. You're not a world famous artist, but you already exposed your work in various museums in the world. And besides that you also worked a lot behind the scenes. You were active in Suriname, you contributed to Paramaribo Perspectives in Rotterdam in 2010 and now you teach students at Fontys. Why?
"I like people. People are inspiring. I also find it very good to transfer knowledge, no pardon, I’ve said that wrong. It’s good to EXCHANGE knowledge. You can really learn from each other. It's also great fun to work with others."

But you haven’t been working on your own career for such a long time.
"That's not true, actually I’ve been working on my career since I was fifteen. But in Suriname it’s also difficult to get known. After having been taught at academies abroad, I began to use more influences. From these influences came Filet Of Sopie in 2007. It seems ‘suddenly’ but it takes years of preparation. I grew up poor and I still haven’t got much money. But I am a billionaire when it comes down to experience. "

How did you get in the picture?
"After Filet Of Sopie was discovered by an American in Suriname, I was invited to exhibit in the United States. Then the ball started rolling towards Europe. First Rotterdam and then London. It was also a lot of good luck, believe me! "

You’re a father, since five months. The contact with your family must be very difficult right now.
"Yes it is. But it gives me an extra boost. My wife is very proud of what I do and she also wants me to finish this. And if we get to talk on Skype or chat, we share in joy. "

When was the last time you spoke to them?
"Ten days ago ... Can I use your.. Does your laptop has..? "

Sure!
"Thanks man!"

But what’s to say of your world fame?
"It will become less I guess. Yeah as I said, after Filet Of Sopie it got started. And in the UK it started a debate. And especially in Switzerland and Italy it went well. "

Do you speak Italian?
"No, but phonetically I'm quite strong."

The work 4-3dom shows a reasonable commitment and you have guided students with their performances on the Katterug. This clearly shows your concern about the state of the world.
"Correct. Look around you. Who would have ever thought this would happen in the Netherlands!?
4-3dom was actually before the war and the work was not intended as specific criticism. The situation made it specific criticism. Do you remember that song that got popular by the attacks on September 11, of that American band, Live? "

Yes I know them!
"Overcome, that’s the song. Overcome became their biggest hit. People think that Live wrote Overcome specifically in response to the attacks, but it was already on their album. It only really embodied "with the feeling of those days." Then the song was released earlier as a single early and the income went to the victims of the attacks. That comparison you can draw with 4-3dom. The war has made it very well known.
But apart from that .. it suits me, but I don’t want to make it look like: "Let me tell you how this works!" For long I thought that I had no authority to create such works. Who takes that kind of stuff from a guy in his twenties, who had never experienced war? Now I'm in the middle of the shit. And now I'm 31, I feel I should take responsibility. I don’t want to be a prophet, like Bono, but I want to create things about issues that I think are really important. The arts allow us to expose and debate calls, and this is my way to make that happen. "

Is it the paternity?
"Perhaps, but the war broke out before Joy was born. I should have been there but the war prevented me from the plane to catch. But everything has become much more intense. On a large scale, "where should it go in the world, as well as small things. I think more about what kind of example I give, what message, I want to transmit, or want to bring to debate. I want to show that in my work. "

Where do you get your inspiration?
"Actually, from everything that moves me. For example, you with your curls haha, no man, yeah I mean, sorry hehe. Okay okay. Uhm. No, things that touch me. Like a song you really feel, the feeling behind the song. You are parsing: how does it work? In my early teenage years I was a fan of Michael Jackson, I have long thought that he was the only artist in the world."

Would you like to be as famous as Michael Jackson?
That level of fame you do not want, and is not pleasant for anyone. For me now, it’s more about my work, The work that I can do here in this city with other people. That’s what I want.

(I saved the file that I made using the voice recorder on my laptop, linked to the internet and let Building chat with his family.)

Typical Building
Favorite stimulant
"I like to smoke a joint now and then."
Finest spot
"The Katterug. I enjoy the work of the students. "
Greatest sin
"I only have a few .. Should I do something about it? "
Best feature
"I'm open to anything."
Biggest annoyance
"This war and that I cannot be with my family."
Typical Building
"My signature?"
Building 10 years later
"Just like now. But together with my family in peace. But I hope sooner, rather than 10 years. "

"The End. Is it near?" "I have no idea, but take a look soon near the café ‘Horen Zeggen’ and ask yourself off again." Graffiti on sheet.